Elk Lick Township police chief laid to rest

July 15, 2004|By VICKI ROCK, Daily American Staff Writer

Elk Lick Township Police Chief Sheridan O. Caton made his final patrol of Meyersdale, the community he protected for almost 29 years, Thursday, accompanied by about 150 police officers from 50 departments from as far away as New York.

Caton, 60, Meyersdale, died in the line of duty Sunday when his patrol car collided with an alleged drunk driver. Caton was responding to a call for assistance from another police department.

Caton joined the Meyersdale police department as a part-time officer in 1965 at the age of 21. He then became a full-time officer and was promoted to chief in 1976. After his retirement in 1994, he became an officer with Elk Lick Township and later police chief. At his death, he was in his 41st year of service as a police officer.

In an interview given on his retirement from Meyersdale, he said he had wanted to be a police officer since the second grade, when a state police trooper visited his class at the Pocahontas school.

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"He was the greatest person, the greatest cop I've ever known," said Meyersdale Chief Ron Ackerman. "He was definitely a teacher. His wish - and he told everybody - he wanted to live a long life, but when he went, he wanted to go quickly and in the line of duty."

Meyersdale Officer Rick Brown said Caton taught them everything about being a police officer. There will never be another like him.

Somerset Officer James Hahn was sworn in to the Meyersdale department at the same time as Caton.

"He told me two months ago - we went back in time and reminisced - he said, 'You know Jimmer' - he always called me Jimmer - 'I've always wanted to go out in a blaze of glory' and he did," Hahn said. "He loved kids, his job and his family."

William R. Price, funeral director, said 120 chairs were put up in the funeral home for the service. All were filled and people were standing. So many flowers were sent that they couldn't all be put inside. A loud-speaker system was set up so the people who gathered outside could hear the service. Letters of condolence came in from departments throughout the nation, including Hawaii.

Pennsylvania State Police Sgt. John Rock, commander of the Somerset station, said troopers from Somerset and the turnpike detail, Troops A and T, were providing traffic control, the color guard and the firing squad to allow the Meyersdale and Elk Lick departments to serve as pallbearers.

"He was one guy who would do anything for you," state police Cpl. William Link said.

"He was a very dedicated police officer and we're going to miss him," Madigan said. "There was nothing fancy about him; he did his job."

Maryland State Police Tfc. J.P. Grinnan said six officers came from the McKinley, Md., barracks to honor their brother officer.

Officer Kenneth Baker, Syracuse, N.Y. police department, said he and other officers with the ceremonial unit attend as many funerals of police officers as they can.

"We're honored to be here," he said.

Michael Lutz, president of the state F.O.P., attended from Philadelphia.

Meyersdale and Somerset police officers stood on the funeral home porch to shake hands with visiting officers and hugged family members. After they went into the funeral home, the assembled police officers, sheriff's deputies, fire fighters and emergency medical technicians filed in. As they passed the casket of the chief, dressed in his Elk Lick Township uniform, they removed their hats and placed them over their hearts.

The Rev. Eric Shaulis, Church of the Brethren, said he remembers when he was 16 and mischievous, he would see Caton in uniform and the way he conducted himself on duty made him respect the chief.

"He spent his life in service and his community was fortunate to have him," he said. "Most police officers, emergency medical technicians and fire fighters serve their community unselfishly and he was one of these types of men."

It is important for family, friends, coworkers and fellow police officers to help each other in this time of grief, Shaulis said.

"You must grieve in order to heal," he said. "There will be times we will fall short in helping others, but our God is faithful and there to comfort us."

Danny Conner, Rockwood, sang "Amazing Grace" and "Danny Boy."

Meyersdale, Somerset and Elk Lick Township police served as pallbearers and brought out the flag-draped casket. The officers came to attention and saluted as the casket was placed in the hearse.

Four motorcycle officers from the Johnstown police department accompanied the hearse. State police color guard and the Greater Pittsburgh Police Emerald Society Pipes and Drums marched behind it on the final tour through Meyersdale. The bagpipers and drums played "Mr. Boyd," "Battle's Over," and "Amazing Grace."

"We go to all departments who call us," Chuck Handerhan, a piper, said. "We're here to honor the fallen."

The state police firing squad performed the 21-gun salute at the cemetery and a bugler performed "Taps."

His death was the fourth time in recent memory that a local police officer died in the line of duty.

Pennsylvania State Trooper Joseph Sepp, 34, Johnstown, died Nov. 10, 2002, a day after he was shot. He was stationed in Ebensburg and had previously been stationed in Somerset.

Conemaugh Township Office George Banfield, 33, Hollsopple RD 2, was killed in a vehicle accident on May 12, 1984. He was chasing a motorcyclist when his vehicle hit a tree.

Trooper Stephen R. Gyurke, age and address unavailable, who was stationed on the turnpike detail, was killed in an accident while on duty in 1958.